16-year old given life sentence for killing seven-year-old Katie Rough in a York park

A teenager who killed a seven year-old girl in a park by smothering her and slashing her body has been given a life sentence.

A court heard the 16-year-old continued to pose a serious risk of harm to members of the public as she was sentenced over the death Katie Rough in a playing field in York in January.

A judge told the defendant she must spend a minimum of five years in custody but would only be released when considered safe to do so by the parole board.

A court hearing in July was told Katie died from being smothered by her attacker.

Her killer, aged 15 at the time, was standing in a nearby cul-de-sac, covered in blood and carrying a blood-stained Stanley knife as she rang 999 to tell police what she had done.

Leeds Crown Court was told she may have been trying to prove the youngster was not a robot, as she had "irrational beliefs" about how people "may not be human and may be controlled by a higher and hostile force.".
The girl denied murder but pleaded guilty to manslaughter by diminished responsibility.

Sentencing the teenager, Mr Justice Soole said: "On that afternoon you went with Katie to a field near your home in York.

"What happened next is known only to you, since you remain unwilling and/or unable to say anything about it beyond your plea of guilt."

"The utter tragedy and devastation of all this needs no emphasis."

The judge added: "The gravity of the offence of killing a small child speaks for itself.

"However, as both counsel submit, your mental condition at the time of the offence must reduce the level of your culpability."

The defendant appeared in court via a video link from another room in the court building.

She sat between a court usher and youth offending officer with her arms folded and head bowed throughout the hearing.